Hope is on the edge of starting a project that will bring city water up M-30 and eventually to the rest of the township. However, supposedly only 51 percent of land owning residents along M-30 want water, according to a petition that was signed by residents earlier this year.

Besides questioning how much residents might pay for water, some residents question the amount of money the township has already spent on the project. Two residents wanted to know why money had been set aside in the budget for the water project even though the supervisor said the township has not paid for anything yet.

Wendt or other board members did not directly answer the question but instead said any costs incurred would be incorporated in the special assessment.

"It's too bad I can't trust the town board," Leuenberger said just before leaving the meeting.

But not everyone is against bringing water to the towship.

In early spring, a petition was circulated by residents for a special assessment. Nine Hope Township landowners out of 19 along M-30 between Dague and Adams roads in signed the petition including International Engineering.

When residents petition for a special assessment the number of people signing doesn't matter. According to state law those holding the majority, or 51 percent, of the land must sign the petition for it to be valid.

This is where the conflict begins between residents who live along M-30 who want water and those who are against it.

Three years ago, International Engineering helped the township secure a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant to help defray the near $1 million price tag the M-30 water project carries.

"We made no secret we wanted good water," said Randy Oberson, vice president of International Engineering. In order to get the $250,000 grant, the company had to hire 25 new employees and fufill other grant requirements, which it has.

But the $250,000 is not available until the township can account for the other $750,000. And that's what Oberson can't understand.

"We're quite confused," Oberson said. "We're trying to be a good neighbor. Not only is this good for International Engineering but also for Hope Township."

Earlier this year, Edenville Township board members voted 3-2 not to pursue bringing water to M-30. Had the township signed on, it would have helped Hope cut the cost and the project might already have been started.

But Wendt and others on the board are not discouraged. Wendt said the township is working to get the $750,000 remainder on the books and accounted for so the project can move forward. The more money the township can secure in grants the better the cost for residents.

"Ted Wendt has never stopped pushing water even though Edenville backed out," said Wayne Peterson, Hope businessman.

Still, few in Tuesday's audience were pleased with Wendt's figures of $5,000 to $8,000 per parcel payable over 40 years with a floating interest rate of around 5 percent.

Mike Cole lives along M-30 and has a business there as well. He does not want water and vehemently opposes the township board's position on the project.

Cole said his land has four Residential Equivalent Units and will have to pay for water for each one. He said when everything is paid for, including interest, getting water might cost him $40,000.

Cole and others have been assessed as having more than one R.E.U. per parcel. Cliff Miles, of the Midland Economic Development Council, explains an R.E.U as a way for a municipality to measure water consumption. One R.E.U. is equivalent to the water consumption of one single-family dwelling.

But Miles and Wendt both said there will be a chance for residents to appeal the number of R.E.U.s they have been assessed for at the final public hearing for the project if the township is able to secure the money.

The special assessment process requires two public hearings. The first hearing, which was held for this project in January, determines the necessity of an assessment. The second hearing discloses the amount residents must pay for the project. The township has not set a date for the project's second hearing.